
Finalists Announced
We are thrilled to announce the inspiring finalists for the 2025 NSW Women in Mining Awards! Their achievements are a testament to dedication, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence.
Take a moment to explore the inspiring stories of our finalists, each of whom is in the running to win an award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the mining industry across key categories:
- Exceptional Woman in Mining
- Exceptional Young Woman in Mining
- Exceptional Tradeswoman/Operator/Technician
- Exceptional Woman in Technological Innovation
- Inclusion and Diversity Champion
- Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance

Networking Drinks
Join us for networking drinks at 6:30pm, a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry colleagues before formalities begin at 7:00pm. This relaxed setting offers the perfect chance to engage in meaningful conversations ahead of the evening’s awards program.
Sponsored by Newmont.
Master of Ceremonies
Jayne Azzopardi is our event MC. She brings a rich background in journalism, including time in the NSW Parliament Press Gallery and currently anchors the news on Nine’s Today Show.
Sponsored by Yancoal.
Keynote Speaker
Vicky Binns will be our keynote speaker. With over 35 years of experience in the global resources and financial sectors, including executive roles at BHP and Merrill Lynch, she has been a strong advocate for women in mining, co-founding Women in Mining and Resources Singapore (WIMARSG). Vicky is currently a Non-Executive Director at ASX-listed Evolution Mining, Sims Limited, and the Carbon Market Institute and sits on the Advisory Boards of Merlon Capital and JP Morgan Australia.
Sponsored by Team Super.
Entertainment
Fronted by Will D and Holly Summers-Clarke, Top Shelf Live is a dynamic duo with years of experience on Sydney’s live music scene. Known for their versatile setlist spanning R&B, rock, country, house, and pop, they deliver seamless vocal harmonies and captivating performances.
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for their continued support.
Gold | Naming Rights
BHP Mt Arthur Coal is proud to support the NSW Women in Mining Awards in 2024. BHP is a long-time advocate of inclusive and diverse teams, and knows the value they can bring to safety, culture and productivity. In 2016 BHP announced an aspirational goal of gender balance by 2025. And thanks to initiatives such as this one as well as the dedicated leadership of our business, we are almost half-way to that goal and other operators are also following suit.
Our strategy is to focus on attracting and retaining a workforce that is truly representative of society.
Silver Sponsors
For 20 years, Yancoal Australia has been contributing to the Australian coal industry, communities where we operate and broader society. With over 4,500 people working across our operations in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, Yancoal’s story goes beyond the product we mine. It is about the positive impact we have on people’s lives, as we continue to deliver lasting benefits for all of our stakeholders.
Team Super is the top specialist super fund for mining, transport and energy workers, with a strong history of helping deliver exceptional retirement outcomes to our members since 1941.
- Steadfast support – we have our members’ backs through thick and thin.
- Reliable returns – we’re committed to investments that secure our members’ future comfort.
- Local service – with offices in key regional areas across Australia.
Team Super offers its members super, pension, insurance and financial advice services.
To find out more about Team Super, visit teamsuper.com.
In operation for over 25 years, Bengalla Mining Company is located 15km west of Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter. We aim to be a world class operation and a valued supplier, employer and community partner. Our mission is to produce safe, productive and profitable coal with strong community/environmental performance and market presence. Our contribution to the local community extends beyond the immediate economic benefits of our business. Bengalla supports a wide range of projects and partnerships to build stronger and more sustainable communities. Most importantly we invest in the local communities surrounding our operation.
Newmont (ASX: NEM) is the world’s leading gold company, a producer of copper, zinc, lead and silver and Australia’s only molybdenum producer. The company’s world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in Australia, Africa, Latin America, North America and Papua New Guinea. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social and governance practices. The company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution and technical expertise.
Bronze Sponsors
Thiess partners with its clients to deliver excellence in open cut and underground mining in Australia, Asia and the Americas. For almost 90 years, Thiess has operated in diverse commodities, geologies, environments and cultures. The team uses that global insight to optimise solutions and create value for each project, positioning them for optimal efficiency, productivity and cost performance, backed by how they meet their commitments. Thiess is committed to being at the forefront of sustainable mining, leveraging the power of its people and technology to drive sustainable change.
Established in 2011, Evolution Mining has grown into a globally relevant gold producer that prospers through the cycle, with a reputation for delivering value to all stakeholders. Today, we operate six mines in Australia and Canada with a portfolio vision of up to eight assets, in Tier 1 jurisdictions, generating superior returns.
Our priority is to keep our people safe and well, provide a diverse and respectful workplace and create sustainable value for all stakeholders in an environmentally and socially responsible way. With a bold team focused on financial discipline and a high-performing culture, where values and reputation are non-negotiables, Evolution has a bright future.
Komatsu develops and supplies technologies, equipment and services for the construction, mining, forklift, industrial and forestry markets.
For more than a century, the company has been creating value for its customers through manufacturing and technology innovation, partnering with others to empower a sustainable future where people, business and the planet thrive together. Front-line industries worldwide use Komatsu solutions to develop modern infrastructure, extract fundamental minerals, maintain forests and create consumer products.
The company’s global service and distributor networks support customer operations to enhance safety and productivity while optimizing performance.
Aurelia Metals Limited (ASX: AMI) is an Australian mining and exploration company with a highly strategic landholding and two polymetallic underground mines, the Peak and Federation Mines, location in the Cobar Basin in western New South Wales. In this region, the company holds one of the most geologically prospective ground positions in Australia and have the expertise and capability to discover and convert this endowment to unlock exceptional value for its shareholders. Additionally, Aurelia has a consented, high-grade copper development project located proximate to the Peak Mine underground infrastructure, Great Cobar.
2024 Highlights
Check out these highlights from last year’s event!
2024 Award Winners
Congratulations to the 2024 Women in Mining Award Winners!
Winners of the NSW Women in Mining Awards will go on to represent NSW at the Women in Resources National Awards, hosted by the Minerals Council of Australia.
Exceptional Woman
Keryn Zambrowski – Whitehaven Coal
Keryn Zambrowski, Senior Manager Investor Relations at Whitehaven Coal, has been named the Exceptional Woman in NSW Mining for 2024.
With a wealth of domestic and international experience, Keryn has held multiple roles at Whitehaven Coal, including leading export contract negotiations and becoming the first female marketer at Whitehaven. In 2022, she transitioned into a senior role in investor relations. Keryn is committed to industry advocacy and education, and actively mentors women in finance and commercial logistics at Whitehaven.
Exceptional Young Woman
Hannah Berthold – HER Engineering Machining & Maintenance
In 2021 Hannah started her own business, founding HER Engineering, Machining and Maintenance and has been highly active in encouraging young women to seek a career in mining by starting an apprenticeship.
Exceptional Women in Technological Innovation
Karin Soldenhoff – Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation
Karin Soldenhoff from the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) received the 2024 Technological Innovation Award for her work as technical lead on a project for Australia Strategic Metals (ASM), to develop novel solvent extraction technology to separate rare earth elements found at its Dubbo Project.
Exceptional Tradeswoman/Operator/Technician
Nadine Heal – Evolution Mining
The 2024 Exceptional Tradeswoman /Operator /Technician Award was awarded to Nadine Heal from Evolution Mining. Nadine is the Open Pit Supervisor at Evolution Mining’s Cowal Gold Operations (CGO) and has played a crucial role in mentoring women at CGO, significantly enhancing female participation in operational roles.
Inclusion & Diversity Champion
Damien Butler – The Bloomfield Group
Damien Butler from The Bloomfield Group was awarded the 2024 Inclusion & Diversity Champion Award for his work in fostering diversity and inclusion within the mining industry.
Excellence in Diversity Programs & Performance
Thiess
The Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance Award was awarded to Thiess for their MASITE Program.
The program at Mount Arthur South has significantly increased workforce diversity, raising female participation from 18.5% to 23.7% and Aboriginal participation from 2.5% to 11.5%, with 92% of trainees transitioning to permanent roles.